Rare Video: Dutch Soldier Trains Jihadists in Syria

Rare interview on Dutch TV shows former Dutch soldier who left to take part in Syria's jihad for 'noble causes.'

By Ari Yashar

First Publish: 2/13/2014, 10:00 PM

A rare interview exposes the motives behind a professional Royal Netherlands Army soldier's decision to leave Holland to train jihadists fighting President Bashar Assad's regime in Syria.

The man, named Yilmaz, is reportedly the first Dutch jihadist to be interviewed. There are an estimated 120 Dutch jihadists thought to be in Syria currently.

Dutch news sources Nieuwsuur's foreign editor Roozbeh Kaboly found Yilmaz online, and after eight months of work was able to secure an interview through a Syrian intermediary. It is worth noting the intermediary agreed to do the interview so as to present the rebels in a positive light.

"Many people came here for the right reasons," argued Yilmaz, saying the jihadists are motivated by the "noble cause" of wanting to help the Syrian people. He notes that "over 90% of the people here have never fired a bullet in their lives."

When asked if he was planning to carry out attacks upon returning to Holland, the Dutch jihadist responded in the negative, saying "we came here to die, so us going back is not part of our perspective here."